I gave the finished socks to my mother, so they are not available to photograph, but here is the picture from Interweave/Ravelry:

Mine are similar in colour, but I knit them using Sisu. This is a lovely pattern, though I didn’t enjoy knitting the padded sole, I can see that it is an inherently good idea. Sometimes when I visit my Mum lets me borrow them, and I kind of wish I had kept them.

But a real pair of socks never.

I guess I haven’t really understood the logic in knitting something that will get hidden in shoes. I also am not in general a cold footed person. I do however, really want to knit hosiery on my knitting machine. That will almost be the most exciting thing ever (well, the most exciting knitting related thing), if I can ever get the thing to consistently work for me. I like really short socks and socks at least long enough to come up to my knees — sock patterns are predominantly designed to come to mid calf. This of course is a stupid observation because I design knitting patterns and could make whatever socks I want, whatever length I want, but I always come back to sweaters.

There are other things I have never knit — shrugs, blankets, pants, skirts, bags, pillows. I guess I just like knitting sweaters and gloves.

I have been a little preoccupied lately, so I will probably continue to be a bit sporadic in posting for some time longer, but I am trying to pull myself together. Nothing so very bad is happening, but it feels bad now — in the grand scheme of things it will all be fine.

And, today I came home to a very exciting surprise:

This would not be such a great surprise, though I do really like getting knitting magazines and reading material in general in the mail, but look at what is on page 28:

This is my first design published in a real live print magazine. I am so happy with the way in turned out.

As you can see Kristi has a taste for more tasteful colours than me. This one was in knit inBerroco Bonsai in Raku Brown (Ravelry link) and my original sample was knit in Phildar Phil’Bambou in red (Ravelry link), which is a lovely yarn, but it doesn’t have as much memory as the Bonsai.

In case any of you are interested in similar release (to the first example, not the second — that kind is up to you), I just came across this art project by Rachael Matthews. You can also sign up to finish other people’s projects — imagine the good feeling of releasing them from crafty purgatory.

Here is her statement:

Dear Knitter,

UFO Project Administration Service was the answer to a proposal I was asked to give for the Jerwood Contemporary Makers 2009 Exhibition. The exhibition will run from 10th June -19th July at the Jerwood Space in London and will then tour.

You are invited to take part in helping us complete Planet Earth’s UFOs. All the UFOs are posted opposite. Some are ‘WAITING’ for YOU, and some have been ‘TAKEN’ by SOMEBODY!

Take chances, make choices, tell stories, imagine the possibilities, and connect to the bottom draw of other knitters across the globe.

Please leave comments, and for more information or to book a UFO, e-mail ufo@prickyourfinger.com

The Yarn Forward previews for issue 14, June 2009 are up here, including the pattern for my Forest Inspired Pullover (Ravelry link here):

Image copyright: St Range Photography

It is strange to see my pattern modeled by someone else. I remember Stefanie Japel mentioning feeling that way on her blog, and it is true — the first time it is definately odd, especially as I didn’t knit the sample.

Sorry to be incommunicado for the last few days. I have been traveling again. Here is a bit of carding I did before I left:

Until now I haven’t done any carding with different colours and fibres which makes the glorious batts I really admire – perhaps I was lazy and perhaps I was scared and perhaps I just liked doing one thing for a while. This is the time I decided to take the plunge; here is the fibre I used:

Here is some carding in process:

And here is a bit of a close up of the batt and locks (I haven’t spun with locks yet either):